Blog

As previously indicated, we’re in Lite Blogging mode today because it is a federal holiday. And it’s also a slow news day so far, as is indicated by the high placement in news aggregators of whining by the White House press corps about their lack of access to the president’s golf outing in Florida. But here are some other mid-day nibbles:

* CPAC’s speaker lineup next month so far includes, as expected, Cantor, McConnell, Rubio, Paul the Younger, and Ted Cruz. More surprising are Jeb Bush, and, defying her political obituaries, St. Joan of the Tundra.

* Speaking of the Savior of the Republican Party, Rubio is visiting Jerusalem this week, complete with a meeting with Bibi—an important box to check for anyone considering presidential run.

* Nebraska’s Johanns joins list of 2014 Senate retirees after just one term.

And in non-political news:

* Maker’s Mark backs down on plan to reduce alcohol content of its famous bourbon; Wonkblog’s Neil Irwin provides backstory.

Back within the hour.

Ed Kilgore
is a contributing writer to the Washington Monthly. He is managing editor for The Democratic Strategist and a senior fellow at the Progressive Policy Institute. Find him on Twitter: @ed_kilgore.

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